Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket (LRGR 120)
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The Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket (LRGR 120) is India’s latest artillery advancement, successfully tested in December 2025 with a maximum range of 120 km, offering precision strike capability far beyond earlier Pinaka variants.
Key Facts about Pinaka LRGR 120
- Range: Extended to 120 km, compared to earlier Pinaka rockets that had ranges of ~40–80 km.
- Guidance System: Unlike older unguided versions, the LRGR 120 uses an advanced guidance package for textbook precision.
- Developer: Designed by DRDO’s Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) in Pune, with support from High Energy Materials Research Laboratory, Defence Research and Development Laboratory, and Research Centre Imarat.
- Testing: Maiden flight test conducted at Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, Odisha on 29–30 December 2025.
- Purpose: Provides the Indian Army with long-range artillery firepower, capable of striking adversary targets before close-quarter battles.
- System Integration: Works with the Pinaka Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher (MBRL) system, already operational with the Army.
Importance
- Enhanced Firepower: Extends India’s artillery reach by ~40 km beyond current guided Pinaka rockets.
- Battlefield Impact: Allows deep strike capability against enemy positions, logistics hubs, and command centers.
- Precision Warfare: Reduces collateral damage compared to unguided rockets, aligning with modern warfare’s emphasis on accuracy.
- Strategic Edge: Former DRDO scientists have noted that a 120 km tactical weapon can be a “war-winner” in regional conflicts.
Comparison of Pinaka Variants
| Variant |
Range (km) |
Guidance |
Status |
| Pinaka Mk-I (Unguided) |
~40 |
No |
Operational |
| Pinaka Mk-II (Unguided) |
~60–75 |
No |
Operational |
| Pinaka Guided Rocket |
~80 |
Yes |
Tested/Operational |
| Pinaka LRGR 120 |
120 |
Yes |
Successfully tested Dec 2025 |
Challenges & Considerations
- Cost & Production: Guided rockets are more expensive than unguided ones, requiring careful scaling for mass deployment.
- Countermeasures: Adversaries may develop electronic warfare tactics to disrupt guidance systems.
- Operational Integration: Training and logistics must adapt to longer-range precision artillery.
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